Biocompatibility of Dextran-Coated 30 nm and 80 nm Sized SPIONs towards Monocytes, Dendritic Cells and Lymphocytes.

Dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION Dex ) of various sizes can be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of different tissues, e.g., liver or atherosclerotic plaques, after intravenous injection. In previous studies, the blood compatibility and the absence of immunogenicity of SPION Dex was demonstrated. The investigation of the interference of SPION Dex with stimulated immune cell activation is the aim of this study. For this purpose, sterile and endotoxin-free SPION Dex with different hydrodynamic sizes (30 and 80 nm) were investigated for their effect on monocytes, dendritic cells (DC) and lymphocytes in concentrations up to 200 µg/mL, which would be administered for use as an imaging agent. The cells were analyzed using flow cytometry and brightfield microscopy. We found that SPION Dex were hardly taken up by THP-1 monocytes and did not reduce cell viability. In the presence of SPION Dex , the phagocytosis of zymosan and E. coli by THP-1 was dose-dependently reduced. SPION Dex neither induced the maturation of DCs nor interfered with their stimulated maturation. The particles did not induce lymphocyte proliferation or interfere with lymphocyte proliferation after stimulation. Since SPION Dex rapidly distribute via the blood circulation in vivo, high concentrations were only reached locally at the injection site immediately after application and only for a very limited time. Thus, SPION Dex can be considered immune compatible in doses required for use as an MRI contrast agent.